Well, I wouldn't worry about A&E (I really ought to have the talk name 'LaxMom', though). Did he calm down relatively quickly? Did he drink fine and breathe fine and seem in every way himself once he calmed down?

If yes to all those Qs, I wouldn't worry, but you might want to check him every half hour for the next 3 hours or so or so to see that his breathing is normal.

Oh thanks so much for the reasurrance everyone, I've been worried sick for the past hour!

He's sleeping and breathing fine at the moment, I'll probably check him every 20 minutes tonight!!

He didnt feed after the fall as he had just had a feed but is due for another feed in a couple hours. He did stop crying pretty quickly afterwards once I gave him a big cuddle and was smiling at me when I put him down to sleep in his cot. So, I suspect he is okay.

please try not to worry, if he had really hurt himself broken bones wise, youd know about it, hed prob still be screaming. If hed really hurt himself head wise, i dare say you would have seen signs such as vomiting, prolonged crying or some other type of uncharacteristic behaviour. It is a worry when these things happen, but I dont know a single parent that hasnt got a story like this, all the kids came out the otherside fine

When DD fell off the changing table (onto a wooden floor) and we went to A&E I got lots of good advice. And she was fine too! Anyway, they said that you can check hourly, if they are asleep give the base of their foot a tap, if they stir slightly, they're fine.

I also phoned NHS direct once when I'd been winding DD and knocked her head on the chair back. They got me in a right panic, she was crying, they called an ambulance and she was fine. They like to observe the baby for 4 hours from time of head-knock, so IME you have to wait for 4 hours to be seen...

I have a friend who fell onto hard ground with their baby. The baby got a skull fracture, they got an egg-sized lump almost immediately, the doctors didn't do an x-ray or anything, just left it to heal and the baby was fine!

Just called NHS direct and they talked me through a whole load of questions (most of them unrelated to our issue) and the result was that I should take him to A & E because he fell more than double his height.

I told them that I dont have any transport to get there tonight and I also have a sleeping toddler - DH working night shift.

They told me to get a taxi!

Honestly, I do not have the energy to sit in A & E all night long with 2 small children. And I dont think it warrents an A & E visit, I was just calling them for some reassurance.

I think they only told me to do this because they need to cover themselves.

I've just checked on him again, he is sleeping but he stirs because I put on the light - does that sound like an injured child?

Sorry, I trained as a paeds nurse, I have seen a baby who has done this before and I really do think that you need to take him to A&E to get him checked. There's a possibility that your baby may have a fracture from this so he does need to be checked over. I don't mean to worry you but the baby I cared for fell just under 3 feet and fractured it's skull. I really do strongly suggest you get him checked over.

probably shouldn't say this but nhs direct will always err on the side of caution because they cannot see the patient. Ring gp out of hours if you are concerned about ignoring nhs advice they will be ar more sensible and will have no problem with you phoning them.

Before you do ring though wake him up and see how he is. so that when they ask you, you are not blithely saying "oh yes he's been flat out for a few hours."

DS2 fell down some stairs at about 6 myhs, and I took him to A and E because NHS direct advised it ( because he fell from more than double his height) we in for over an hour because under ones have to be seen by a doctor and it was busy, ds2 was fine, i knew he was fine but was panicking, all they did was ask the same quests as NHS direct, feel his head and neck and say ' hes fine, go home. I would leave him sleep (its the best place for him) monitor him and if you still feel worried take him to gps tomorrow.

i strongly second fluffy. and GP out-of-hours sounds like a good idea if youre hesitating re A and E. i understand you were hoping for reassurance but i doubt you're going to feel reassured in any case until a medical professional does check him over.

Did you go to A&E? When I went for a fall like this (once for each child) , they didn't do a skull x-ray. If you take your baby to a GP they'd send you on to A&E to be on the safe side - it's a rite of passage that first A&E trip.

Hope all is well. If you haven't gone to A&E, you can keep checking him each hour to see he's still stirring (set an alarm clock).

He woke up as per usual last night for his feed and was absolutely fine, ate well, smiled, gurgled and went back to sleep. Woke at usual times in the night for a feed and this morning. Seems absolutely fine.

I called my GP this morning to get an appointment but they are full today, the earliest I can get an appointment is tomorrow afternoon.

We didnt end up going to A & E, I called NHS direct & although they admitted that he didnt sound like he was in any danger, they still suggested going to be on the safe side. But it wasnt an option last night as I didnt have any transport & DH was at work - I also have a toddler so I couldnt just leave him in the house alone. We've just moved to the area so dont know anyone in the area & relatives live 2 hours away.